The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

13 And of other durst no man. This was the second fruit of the miracles, in that those which believed not, being convict with the excellent power of God, dare not despise the Apostles, but are rather enforced to reverence the church. Yet that might seem an absurd thing, that being terrified with miracles, they fly from God and his people. I answer, that they were letted through their own fault from coming. And it is not to be doubted, but that God doth call us unto himself by miracles. Therefore whosoever they be that go not so far, as willingly to embrace the grace of God which shineth in them, they are letted and hindered by their own perverse and evil conscience. Yet this is some fruit, in that God wringeth some fear out of them: although Luke doth ascribe this not only to the miracle, but rather comprehendeth all together which might seru• to the increasing of the dignity of the Church. For all things were so ordered, that there shined there a certain divine majesty: for they did no less differ from the other, than Angels from men. For there is a certain secrete majesty in holy discipline, and in sincere godliness, which doeth even fast bind the wicked whither they will or no. But we know not at this day of what sort the same is, yea rather we cause our selves to be despised together with the Gospel, through our profane liberty of evil living. Furthermore the punishment of Ananias and his wife, did not a little terrify the wicked, and keep them from breaking in unadvisedly into the company of those men, where God had showed himself so sharp a judge. Yet we must note, that he speaketh of men which were indifferent, in this place, & of those which were not of the worst sort. For there were at that time many at Jerusalem, whom neither the reverence of signs, neither yet of the angelical holiness of the godly could move. Therefore Luke meaneth moderate men, in whom there was some feed of the fear of God: like as we see at this day certain, whom the vanity of the world keepeth back from submitting their necks unto the yoke of Christ: yet because they smell out some divine thing in our doctrine, they dare not despise the same:

13 And of other durst no man. This was the second fruit of the myracles, in that those which beleeued not, being conuict with the excellent power of God, dare not despise the Apostles, but are rather enforced to reuerence the church. Yet that might seeme an absurd thing, that being terrified with myracles, they flie from God and his people. I aunswere, that they were letted through their owne fault from comming. And it is not to be doubted, but that God doth call vs vnto himselfe by myracles. Therefore whosoeuer they bee that goe not so farre, as willingly to imbrace the grace of God which shineth in them, they are letted and hindered by their owne peruerse and euill conscience. Yet this is some frute, in that God wringeth some feare out of them: although Luke doth ascribe this not only to the myracle, but rather comprehendeth all togeather which might seru to the encreasing of the dignitie of the Churche. For al thinges were so ordered, that there shined there a certain diuine maiestie: for they did no lesse differ frō the other, than Angels from men. For there is a certaine secrete maiestie in holie discipline, and in sincere godlinesse, which doeth euen fast binde the wicked whither they will or noe. But we knowe not at this day of what sort the same is, yea rather we cause our selues to be despised togither with the Gospel, through our profane libertie of euil liuing. Furthermore the punishment of Ananias and his wife, did not a little terrifie the wicked, and keepe them from breaking in vnaduisedly into the companie of those men, where God had shewed himself so sharp a iudge. Yet we must note, that he speaketh of men which were indifferent, in this place, & of those which wer not of the worst sort. For ther wer at that time many at Ierusalem, whom neither the reuerence of signes, neither yet of the angelical holines of the godly could moue. Therfore Luke meaneth moderate men, in whom there was some feed of the feare of God: like as we see at this day certain, whō the vanitie of the world keepeth back frō submitting their necks vnto the yoke of Christ: yet because they smel out some diuine thing in our doctrin, they dare not despise the same: